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Swamp-lily Crinum americanum var. americanum

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
KRY-num a-mer-ih-KAY-num a-mer-ih-KAY-num
Description

Swamp-lily is a perennial commonly found in freshwater marshes, cypress swamps, and lake edges in NC to Florida. Swamp-lily has large, showy, fragrant flowers with a long bloom period and is a NC Concern/Historical species. 

It prefers moist to wet rich loams of sand to clay in sun to partial shade. Use in water gardens, bogs or pond areas. It can also be grown in a pot. They do not like being transplanted.

More information on Crinum americanum.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#water garden#fragrant flowers#swamps#pond garden#long bloom time#larval host plant#food source summer#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains FAC#Audubon#woodland garden#boggy sites
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#water garden#fragrant flowers#swamps#pond garden#long bloom time#larval host plant#food source summer#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains FAC#Audubon#woodland garden#boggy sites
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Crinum
    Species:
    americanum
    Family:
    Amaryllidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    SE USA
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TX
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts moths at night with increased fragrance.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 1 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasional Flooding
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit displays from August to November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Umbrels of 2-6 lily-like blooms are white or pink-tinged with extruded stamens and purple anthers. Flowers bloom from June to November.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Strap-like green leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Thick green flower stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Songbirds